Athens Day 2

Yassas! (Hello!)

On our second day in Athens we did the most famous monument in Greece - the Acropolis! Ray and I booked timed entry for 8-9 AM and wandered through the Plaka neighborhood to arrive at the entrance in time. There were several tour groups and, even that early, it was getting pretty hot out. We explored the various temples and monuments within, taking a few moments to understand the purpose of each. We also enjoyed the stunning 360 degree views over Athens from the top, spotting our hotel and the other monuments we’d previously visited.



After exploring for a bit, we went to breakfast at the Anafiotika Cafe perched atop the steps leading to the Acropolis. We had spotted a Michelin star restaurant offering what sounded like an amazing breakfast a couple blocks away (and should’ve gone there!) but decided against it for the more authentic dining experience. I had a Greek breakfast with Greek coffee, pomegranate juice, and a spanakopita. Ray got a breakfast with a cappuccino, eggs, and bacon (which he would like to emphasize was soggy). One funny encounter occurred while we were eating - the restaurant next door was also recruiting potential customers and re-routed a group that was going to come to our same restaurant to theirs. There were also some pretty funny cats that seemed to own the place. If we ever come back to Athens we’ll try the Michelin star spot!



After that, we headed down towards the Agoras (Ancient and Roman) for visits since they were included on our pass. The Roman Agora was a super quick visit but we thought the octagonal tower was interesting. We enjoyed our visit to the Ancient Agora a bit more. There was an interesting exhibit with assorted Ancient Greek pottery, stoneware, coins, and other items. We found one display that showed how jury selections were done as well - basically just a game of Plinko!



We passed but the church on property as we continued along the Ancient Agora path, spotting a few cute cats, one that was particularly relaxed! Those who know me know I’m allergic to cats so i resisted the urge to pet… 



We walked up to the Hephaestus Temple after that, which was definitely the highlight of the Agora. 



With a lot of ancient sites behind us, we walked through the Psyri neighborhood (known in Athens for nightlife) and then went to lunch at Ciel, a rooftop bar and cafe. 



We took a break before heading out for dinner also in the Psyri neighborhood at a hole in the wall spot recommended by one of my study abroad classmates. The food was good, service was quick, and we were treated to some free entertainment by the cats at the restaurant! We’re not totally sure what was happening but there was a heck of a lot of meowing… 



We grabbed some gelato and then went back to our hotel to pack for our early morning flight to Santorini. 

Thanks for a fun couple days, Athens!

Amy